First case of Ebola detected in France

The first case of infection caused by the Ebola virus has been identified in France, the country's Ministry of Health reported. The virus was found in a patient who returned from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he worked as part of a humanitarian mission.

This is also the first time during the new Ebola virus outbreak that the disease has been identified outside of Africa.

The sick person was hospitalized in a special medical facility. He is in stable condition.

A thorough epidemiological investigation is being carried out. Officials are identifying people with whom the infected person may have had contact. They are going to be sent to a 21-day quarantine.

According to AFP, the patient arrived on an Air France flight. The airline provided a list of passengers to health authorities.

• The 17th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo became known in April. In mid-May, the World Health Organization declared an emergency of international concern. By this time, the virus had also been discovered in Uganda.
• The outbreak is associated with the spread of the Bundibugyo virus (one of the viruses that causes ebolavirus infection). There are no vaccines or specific treatment against this virus.
• Public health experts believe the risk of the disease spreading worldwide remains low due to the relatively low contagiousness of the Ebola virus.